Deyalsingh: No evidence of fake PCR test results

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh File photo -
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh File photo -

HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says there is no evidence that people who received exemptions to enter TT while the borders are closed owing to the pandemic, did so using fake polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

He was responding to questions from the Opposition in the House of Representatives on Friday. Deyalsingh called on them to provide him with any information to prove otherwise.

He said checks with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram, Principal Medical Officer (PMO) of Institutions Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards, and port health officials, have not produced any such evidence.

Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee accepted Deyalsingh's answer but asked if measures would be put in place to prevent such a scenario from happening.

Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George disallowed Lee's question, reminding him of Deyalsingh's earlier answer.

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked Deyalsingh to respond to a media report claiming Immigration Division officers were saying some of them had contracted covid19 because of receiving "fake" PCR reports from foreign nurses.

Deyalsingh reiterated, "There is no evidence coming from the CMO, Dr Maryam Richards and port health about fake PCR tests."

After observing the original question from Lee stressed the word "allegedly" and looking at UNC MPs, Deyalsingh said, "If anyone has evidence that we have fake PCR tests, I urge the Opposition to share it with us, so that in the interest of protecting all of us, we can work together."

The minister also advised people to "avoid forested areas" and said anyone entering these places should get their yellow fever vaccines. He offered this advice in response to a question from Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein about reports of yellow fever being discovered in red howler monkeys.

In addition to avoiding going into forests, Deyalsingh said, "We have told the susceptible group like hunters, hikers, make sure you are vaccinated." He added that one yellow fever vaccine "lasts you a lifetime."

Reiterating that both he and his ministry have been underscoring the importance of people being vaccinated since last May, Deyalsingh said emphasis is being placed on ensuring that 1,325 children under the age of two, receive their yellow fever vaccines.

He explained these children are spread out between St George West (422), St George Central (364), County Caroni (448) and Tobago (91). Deyalsingh disclosed the ministry has actually been calling parents in these areas to bring their children in to be vaccinated. He told Hosein "this is not a national event".

He also said the CMO has been speaking with county medical officers of health "to ramp this up." In addition, Deyalsingh said there has bee n "thermal fogging, perifocal work and local public service announcements" in places like Biche and Rio Claro.

He stressed that while spraying has been increased, it cannot be done more than once every four months or it will give the aedes aegypti mosquito a chance to develop immunity to the chemicals and create an even bigger problem.

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"Deyalsingh: No evidence of fake PCR test results"

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